ou can help it;
for from what people say of him I think your husband, as will be,
sticks mostly to his own way, and I don't think he'll let his wife
interfere. But he's a hard-working man, and it'll be a great comfort
to you that you'll never see your children wanting."

"Oh, the childhren, the little dears! it's of them I'm thinking. God
he knows, it's chiefly along of them as makes me do it; but--oh laws!
Miss, it's a dreadful thing to come over one all at once. But it's
a great comfort anyway your letting Biddy come down to ready the
mutton and pratees, and things; and so, Miss, as I've so much to do,
you'll excuse my waiting any longer; and you and Mr. Thady and the
Captain,--for I'm thinking the Masther won't be coming,--'ll not be
down later than sivin, for Father John's to be in it at sivin exact."

"And who's to get the kiss, Mary?"

"Oh, Miss!"

"The Captain says he'll have a try for it anyway."

"Oh that'd be too much honor intirely, Miss. But av here isn't Father
John coming up the avenue!"

And Mary hurried off into the realms under ground to secure the
willing assistance of Biddy, and Father John's ponderous foot up the
hall steps gave Feemy anything but a pleasant sensation. She was very
fond of Father John too, but somehow, just at present she did not
feel quite pleased to see him.

The doors were all open, and Father John walked into Feemy's boudoir.
However, he was only Father John, and it wasn't her dress therefore
that annoyed her; any dress would do for a priest.

After the common greetings were over, and Father John had asked after
the family, and Feemy had surmised that it was either her father or
her brother that he wished to see, the priest began his task.

"No, Feemy, my dear, it's not your father or your brother I want to
see this turn, but just your own self." And Father John sat himself
down by the fire. "I'm come just to have a little chat with you, and
you musn't be angry with me for meddling with what, perhaps, you'll
say was no business of mine."

This exordium made Feemy's heart palpitate, for she knew it must be
about Captain Ussher, but she only said,

"Oh! no, Father John, I won't be angry with you."

"That's my darling, for you know it's only out of love for you and
Thady that I'm speaking, and a real friend to you can't do you any
harm, if after all you shouldn't take his advice."

"Oh! no, Father John, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged to you."

Father John himse